Work on Matara-Colombo expressway ends by 2011
Uditha KUMARASINGHE and Irangika RANGE
Highways and Road Development Minister T.B. Ekanayake told Parliament
yesterday the total estimated cost of the Matara-Colombo Southern Lanka
Expressway is Rs. 85 billion and work is expected to be completed by
2011.
The Government has spent Rs. 43,887 million for the construction of
this project so far, he said.
Asked about the new construction added due to various reasons, in
addition to plans prepared for the construction of the road, the
Minister said the original design of the project was to construct a four
lane new highway from Kottawa to Dodangoda (34 km) and the balance from
Dodangoda to Matara (92 km) to two lane standard. However, during the
implementation, a policy decision was taken to upgrade the entire
highway to four lane standard and to restructure all contracts with
enhanced scope.
Further opening of the Kalu Ganga Bridge, Welipenna Bridge and
Benthara Ganga Bridge were increased to mitigate flooding, the Minister
said. An additional flood mitigation method was also adopted at
Kahathuduwa Interchange. Altogether the original cost of the project was
revised from Rs. 40 billion to Rs. 85 billion, he said.
The Minister was responding to an oral question by JVP MP Lakshman
Nipunaarachchi.
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